Shoedunnit? Can you help solve the bizarre trainers-in-the-tree riddle on Cumbrian roadside?

Shoe would have thought it? Shoe would have thought it?

CHRISTMAS trees usually capture people’s imagination at this time of year but this bizarre sight on a Cumbrian roadside is causing quite a stir of its own.

This picture, taken by The Westmorland Gazette’s chief photographer Mark Harrison just off the A685 at Ash Fell near Kirkby Stephen, shows an unusual ‘tree of walking boots’.

It has been catching the eye of motorists, and Ann Sandell, chairman of Kirkby Stephen and District group Walkers are Welcome, said: “We are curious too and would be delighted to learn the story behind this new ‘artwork’ that is attracting so much attention."

Anyone who has any information about the tree is asked to email info@walkeden.org

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Comments(11)

hogheaven says...
3:42pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Is there a pair of size nines there mine need replacing LOL

Moonbase says...
5:08pm Wed 19 Dec 12

I think this is solely down to one person.
Looks like there are some trainers on the tree,they have probably been niked.

life cycle too says...
2:49am Thu 20 Dec 12

If this is a cynical attempt to publicise the walking group, they should be booted out!
However, the likely hood is that it will boost the Gazette's readership after interest in the burning office chair started to die down!

lizallan says...
1:05pm Thu 20 Dec 12

laughed out loud at life cycles comment.

life cycle too says...
1:49pm Thu 20 Dec 12

You should give Moonbase some credit too, since mine was not the sole response, and I wouldn't want him to be down at heel!
Still he has a tongue and can speak up for himself.

It is possible the boots and shoes are all from Clarks - the UK's biggest footwear retailer... apparently they have branches everywhere!
Once people twig this story is here, the response will be tree-mendous - they will be queuing to post their puns, although a few will be bark-ing up the wrong tree.

Given that it is pantomime season, shouldn't we be expecting a glass slipper to appear soon?

lizallan says...
1:58pm Thu 20 Dec 12

It was the reference to the burning chair that amused me.I remember thinking at the time that it made a change from reporting a chip pan fire in Hawick.

lizallan says...
1:58pm Thu 20 Dec 12

It was the reference to the burning chair that amused me.I remember thinking at the time that it made a change from reporting a chip pan fire in Hawick.

life cycle too says...
2:55pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Ahh.. the burning office chair - the runaway success that had readers flocking to the gazette site from all over Britain.. and indeed the world!

It is about time they repeated that success if only for the sake of their advertisers! In fact I fear this story of the well shod tree is perhaps just a little too interesting to achieve the same number of hits... but it remains to be seen!

lakesailor says...
5:36pm Thu 20 Dec 12

From Wikipedia
"A shoe tree, not to be confused with the shoe-preservation device of the same name, is a tree (or, occasionally, a powerline pole or other wooden object) that has been festooned with old shoes. Shoe trees are generally located alongside a major local thoroughfare, and may have a theme (such as high-heeled shoes). There are currently at least seventy-six such shoe trees in the United States, and an undetermined number elsewhere."

Not a patch on burning office chairs.

Moonbase says...
9:14pm Thu 20 Dec 12

I think that tree (I don't think it's a rubber one) is situated near the platform.
They were probably catching the train and going on a exotic sandals holiday.
Looks like the top of the tree is a hiking boot, 10 out of 10 for attention to detail.
We need to keep an eye on this tree...it could be full of shoes if a brogue trader passes by and off loads his dodgy stock.

life cycle too says...
6:36pm Sat 22 Dec 12

Good job it wasn't a horse chestnut tree - horse shoes might hurt a small child throwing sticks to try and get conkers down!

Perhaps these shoes were placed by "retired" walkers who have decided to put their feet up during the winter months, as there seem to be no slippers there!

Or it might be an advertisement for Treetop Treks - the exciting attraction at Brockhole, which has people walking through the tree tops.
You have to well heeled though, to pay the parking charges if you overstay your time there until Parking Eye get the boot!

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